Curbing consumerism is a growing
trend for young families. You might even
call it a movement. The Internet is rife
with articles on how to do more with less
and one mummy blogger went so far as to
pledge to spend nothing on her baby for a
year beyond necessities.
Adopting a minimalist approach is
applauded by some children's health
professionals as well. In his book, The
Good Life, psychotherapist Graham Music
asserts that although kids are smarter
today than ever before, their capacity for
empathy and compassion has reached
new lows, thanks to growing consumerism.
If you're about to become a parent and
are considering a minimalist approach,
you may want to reflect on these tips from
author and co-founder of the Inner Kids
Foundation, Susan Kaiser Greenland:
1. Be clear about your motivation.
Maybe, as a practical matter, you need to
reduce your expenses, or want to deepen
your connection with family and commu-
nity while respecting resources. Consider
what you want to accomplish.
2. Identify your ideals. Being thri y is
laudable but it's not the only thing to think
about. Be careful not to hold onto this
one ideal so tightly it overshadows other
equally important ones. If your family sys-
tem begins to feel out of balance, it might
make sense to ask yourself whether there's
another way to foster your principles.
3. Be flexible. If zero child-related spend-
ing sounds good in theory but your work
schedule makes it impossible to trade
disposable diapers for reusable ones, or it
complicates your life rather than simplifies
it, don't throw the baby out with the bath-
water (pun intended). Meditate on other
means to reinforce your values.
4. Be aware. Notice how one person's
spending decision is one link in a chain of
cause and effect, both internal (how we feel
about something) and external (affecting
other people and the planet). ●
oinin h od n
inim li F mil
OVE HEA D
"Simply being
aware of what is
happening right
now without
wishing it were
different; enjoying
the pleasant
without holding on
when it changes
(which it will);
being with the
unpleasant without
fearing it will
always be this way
(which it won't)."
James Baraz, co-author
of Awakening Joy
For more ways to simplify, visit
mindful.org/parentinglite
o
18 mindf l O ob 2014